Cross River State has confirmed a new case of COVID-19, prompting immediate contact tracing and isolation efforts. The index case involves a 53-year-old Chinese national who works with Lafarge in Akamkpa Local Government Area. He arrived in Nigeria on March 17 and began exhibiting symptoms on April 10, with his condition worsening at a local medical facility before being transferred to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) [4, 6].

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the case and stated that the situation is under control, with no evidence of widespread transmission [3, 4, 7]. The patient is currently isolated at the UCTH, in a stable condition and responding to treatment [3, 4, 5].

Following the confirmation, the Cross River State Ministry of Health, in coordination with the NCDC and other partners, activated response measures. These include intensified surveillance, infection prevention and control measures, and rigorous contact tracing [3, 5, 7]. Approximately ten individuals identified as close contacts of the confirmed case have been traced and are currently undergoing isolation and monitoring [3, 6].

The NCDC has assured the public that all identified contacts are being followed up appropriately [3, 5]. The agency urges the public to remain calm but vigilant, practice good hygiene, including regular handwashing and respiratory etiquette, and stay home if feeling unwell [7]. Citizens are advised to rely on verified information from official health authorities and avoid misinformation [7].

This resurgence of COVID-19 in Cross River marks the state's first significant case since 2022 [6]. The NCDC emphasized that the detection of this case indicates that surveillance systems remain active [3]. Nigeria has implemented various control measures throughout the pandemic, including travel restrictions, testing, contact tracing, and isolation protocols [8, 9, 10, 11].